Perez

Perez was the son of Judah and Tamar, twin brother of Zerah, and an ancestor of King David and of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Orthodox Church commemorates him on the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers, before the Nativity of the Lord.

His birth

According to Genesis, Tamar, Judah’s daughter-⁠in-⁠law, bore the twins Perez and Zerah. At birth Perez came out before his brother, who had put out his hand first, and for this he received the name Perez, that is, “breach” or “breaking through”, as one who made way for himself. The Book of Ruth says, “May your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.” This shows that his line was regarded as numerous and blessed.

His descendants

The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul. He is the forebear of the house of Judah and of the clan of Perez, and an ancestor of King David. After the Babylonian exile, four hundred and sixty-⁠eight of his descendants remained in Jerusalem, all men of worth. His name is in the genealogy of our Lord Jesus Christ, in both Matthew and Luke. Ethiopian tradition says that a Perez became king of Persia.